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The British Prime Minister (Churchill) to President Roosevelt 9
Thank you very much for your assurances about no sheeps eyes at our oilfields in Iran and Iraq.10 Let me reciprocate by giving you fullest assurance that we have no thought of trying to horn in upon your interests or property in Saudi Arabia. My position in this as in all matters is that Great Britain seeks no advantage, territorial or otherwise, as result of the war. On the other hand she will not be deprived of anything which rightly belongs to her after having given her best services to the good cause—at least not so long as your humble servant is entrusted with the conduct of her affairs. I will bring the matter before the Cabinet Monday and hope to telegraph you immediately thereafter.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the British Embassy on March 6, 1944. This is apparently an extract from the Prime Minister’s telegram No. 601, of the same date, covering a number of subjects, transmitted to the Department by the British Embassy on March 7, 1944 (740.0011 European War 1939/33702).↩
- President Roosevelt in his message No. 485, dated March 3, to Prime Minister Churchill stated that he was having the oil question studied by the Department of State, but asked Mr. Churchill to accept his assurances that “we are not making sheep’s eyes at your oil fields in Iraq or Iran.” (Copy of message obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N.Y.)↩